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Real Estate Companies to Race, Raise Funds for Type One Diabetes Research on June 14

June 8, 2018

NYC’s third annual JDRF Real Estate Games brings together over 50 major real estate firms for a day of fun and competition to help bring about a world without type 1 diabetes

The JDRF Real Estate Games will return to New York City’s Chelsea Piers on Thursday, June 14th to raise money for JDRF, the leading global organization funding type one diabetes (T1D) research, through an afternoon competition among top real estate companies.

Jim Whelan, Executive Vice President of the Real Estate Board of New York(REBNY), serves on the JDRF New York City/Long Island Chapter’s Board of Directors. His teenage son Jack was diagnosed with T1D five years ago. Whelan, the event founder, and others organized the first local fundraising games in 2016, which raised over $80,000 for T1D research. The JDRF Real Estate Games originated in the Washington, DC area 26 years ago, and this year expanded to Chicago with plans for further expansion in 2019. The three events raised over $1 million for T1D research in 2018.

“The third edition of the NYC JDRF Real Estate Games will be the biggest and most successful to date. It is another demonstration of the strong philanthropic role that the real estate industry plays in New York City,” said Whelan. “With such support, we take another step toward improving the lives of millions of Americans through better management and the eventual cure of T1D. Now, let the Games begin and may the best team win!”

John Johnson, Managing Director of Savills Studley and Chair of this year’s Games said, “I’m very proud to be involved in the 3rd JDRF Real Estate Games in NYC, this year as Co-Chair. We’ve raised over $315,000 for JDRF through this friendly, yet competitive, day at Chelsea Piers. Rarely does our industry have days out of the office to team build while raising funds for an important and life-changing organization like JDRF. Where else can the JLL or CBRE team play dodgeball or rock climb against SL Green or Vornado?”

David Kaufman, Senior Vice President of Leasing at SL Green Realty Corp. and Executive Leadership Chair of the Games echoes the importance of the industry rallying to this cause. “Type 1 diabetes became part of my family’s life a little over one year ago. Since that time, I have been searching for a way to support JDRF in finding a cure. I am hopeful the awareness and funds raised by the event provide a meaningful contribution towards that goal. It has been heartwarming to see the amount of support my family, friends and co-workers have provided in connection with this great cause.”

“Having been personally touched by type 1 diabetes, I can’t overstate the impact of the research and advocacy work that JDRF does and the importance of our support,” said David Rothenberg, President of Tishman Realty. “It is heartening to see the major players in our industry coming together at an event that both builds camaraderie and raises much needed funding.”

Maureen A. Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the JDRF New York City/Long Island Chapter adds that “JDRF is extremely grateful for the generous support from the New York real estate community. This is a great opportunity to get an incredibly energetic and philanthropic industry together, whether you have type one diabetes, know someone who does, or want to simply participate in an event that makes a huge impact on so many lives,” she stated. “We are so fortunate to have the unwavering support of the numerous real estate industry partners who make it possible for JDRF to direct even more funding toward important T1D research for the 1.25 million people with this serious disease.”